Binding-post.



.. ()FFICE.

CHARLES E. KETTERING, or DAYToN, onr assmnon To THE DAYTON ENGINEER- me LABORATORIES co a CORPORATION or 01110.

' v BINDING-POST. v

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Man 1914. Application filed November 14, 1910. Serial No. 592,293.

To all whom it mai concern:

Be itknown' that I; CHARLES F. Km'rnn- IN G, a citizen of the United States, residing, at Dayton, county of. Montgomery, and.

' State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binding-Posts,

'- of which the following .is a full, clear, and

position but available for ready-detachment of the terminal from the binding-post; and among the objectsof this improvement are to providenot only a small and inexpensive device of this sort, but one which shall also hold the terminal very securely againstac- 'cidental separati n from the binding post, and shall also permit the terminal to be very quickly attached or detached.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel combinations of parts, a preferred form of embodiment which is shown in the accompanying drawings.

vIn saiddrawings, Figure 1 represents a --partly sectionalized view of this improved binding post, showing the terminal clasped ,in place. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the binding post with the clamping members separate and the terminal just in pr0c-' essof being inserted between the clamping members. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the terminal fully pushed into place. Fig. 4 represents a similar sectional view showing the terminal only partly in place.

The binding post as-shown in the aforesaid views, comprises upper and lower clamping members20 and 21 respectively. The lower clamping member is provided with a bolt 22 and nut 23 adaptable to fasten the binding post to any desired ,object.

Extending upward from the lower clamping member 21, is what may termed a locking shoulder 24, which is circular in shape as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Extending farther upward is a central shaft 25 which for convenience may be termed .a-

guiding shaft as will appear later. At the top of this shaft 25 is a head 26. The shaft ,25 extends up through an aperture in the base of the upper clamping member 20 and between the said head 26 and the base plate of the member 20, there is a coil-spring 28 which spring presses the upper clamping member downward towardgthe lower clampupper member may be pulled u ward against spring-tensionto separate it rom thelower -member in the manner sho wn in Fig. 2 so that the terminal 30 may beinserted. This terminal 30 is shown in the present case in the shape of a flat plate 'and is intended to be the terminal ofthe electric wire whichit .members, as shown in Fig. 2, by having the terminal raised sufficiently to clear the looking shoulder 24 until the terminal is pushed all the way inward. As soon as thispoint is reached, the terminal may be dropped into the position shown in .Fig. 1, in which case it will rest securely clamped between the two spring-pressed clamping members. The terminal cannot then be pulled out. sidewise because the locking shoulder 24 is larger than the peripheral slot 31. The only way of removing the terminal is to pull upward on the upper clamping member 20 so as to separate the clamping membersv as shown in Fig. 2, in which case the terminal may be raised to clear the locking shoulder and then the slotted portion 31 is wide enough to per mit withdrawal of the terminal past the shaft 25. Thus the real' locking feature of the device is the lock-shoulder 24 acting in cotiperation with the enlarged aperture 32 of the terminal, and preventing the terminal from being removed unless the clamping members are separated. But the shaft. 25 acts as a convenient guide for the slotted portion 31 to permit the quick adjustment of the terminal into place and likewise although the terminal is open on this one side,

the smaller width of the slotas compared with the locking shoulder, prevents lateral the ot er member, resilient means for nor- .mally ma ntan mgi said members in clamping position, did a terminal for clamping Y between said two members, said terminal being provided with an' aperture slightly largerv than the contour. of said locking I shoulder,- yvhereby to permit clamping of the terminal between said clamping members but preventing lateral withdrawal of the terminal without separation of the clamping members.

2. -A binding post comprising the combination with two spring pressedclampingl members, one of said members being provided with a lock projection extending to: ward the other member, and a guiding shaft extending from said locking shoulder; of a 1 terminal having a peripheral slot of less width than the contour of said locking shoulder but of greater width than saii guiding shaft, and also formed with a' central aperture connected with said peripheral slot and constructed of slightly larger contour thansaid locking shoulder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A metallicterminal for an electrical element, having a spindle of various diamcters; a metallic plate connected to a high tension wire and having a side opening to engage the spindle, the diameter of said opening being larger than the width of its mouth and thesmallest diameter of, the spindle, while the width of its mouth is smaller than the largest diameter of the spindle; and means whereby the plate diameter of which is larger than that of the step, while the width of the mouth of the f opening is larger than .the diameter of the spindle, but smaller than the diameter of the step; and means whereby the larger portion of said opening may braces and engages the step.

5. A bindin post, comprising a hollow clamping mem r; a cooperating clamping member having a ,reduced shank extending into said first named clam pin member; an enlarged head secured to sai shank member; a locking projection secured to. said cooperatin clamping member and extending toward tie/opposite member; spring means located about the shank of said cooperating member and operable to maintain thesaid members in clamping position; and a terbe held in en I gagement with the step when the plate emminal provided with an aperture slightly.

larger than the contour of said locking member, said terminal being provided with an openin aperture 0 less width than the diameter-of said locking projection and of greater width than the diameter of the shank portion of said cooperating clamping member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. KETTERING.

Witnesses:

J. B. HAYWARD, CHAS. D. BRONSON.

slot communicating with said 

